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Musharraf Gains in Local Elections Opposition Denounces Vote As Rigged and Vows Protests

Posted on: Thursday, 1 September 2005, 12:00 CDT

Allies of Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, have scored major gains in the first two phases of local government elections over the past two weeks, a development likely to further consolidate his grip on power before general elections in 2007, according to analysts here. The third and final phase of the local elections is scheduled for Oct. 6. Islamist parties lost considerable ground to the ruling pro-Musharraf political party, the Pakistan Muslim League. They won seats for the first time in national and provincial parliaments in 2002 elections under the umbrella of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of hard-line clerics. While Musharraf hailed the electoral success of his supporters as a victory for "moderates and defeat for extremists," opposition parties denounced the elections as rigged and vowed to initiate a fresh protest campaign. The first two phases of the hotly contested local elections in August were marred by violence. At least 40 people were killed and more than 550 were wounded in armed clashes throughout the country between rival political groups, according to reports in the Pakistani media. Polls were held in 110 districts of the country for the posts of councilors, who will now vote, in the third phase of the elections, for the powerful posts of district nazims, similar to mayors. According to official results, voter turnout was at just under 49 percent.

The nazims, under a new system of governance introduced by Musharraf in 2001, wield unprecedented power in their respective districts and their support can play a decisive role in the next general elections. Musharraf is expected to run for presidential office as a civilian in 2007. Since coming to power after a bloodless coup in 1999, Musharraf has continued as the chief of the country's powerful military. Last year, he reneged on his promise to take off his uniform.

The military has ruled for more than half of Pakistan's history as an independent nation. Intermittent periods of civilian rule have been tainted with corruption and mismanagement. "The importance for the local body elections is significant as they are seen as paving the way for the higher elections putting in place the local level big wigs, the 'little big men' who would then deliver," said Muhammad Waseem, a political analyst and head of department of international relations at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. Scrambling for the posts of councilors at the local level by the political parties was thus inevitable. But controversy marred the local government elections right from the outset. Although the government had declared that elections would be held on nonparty basis, political parties openly supported candidates. In many conservative areas of North-West Frontier Province, women were not allowed to vote, prompting human rights activists to voice their concerns. Opponents of Musharraf and the Pakistan Muslim League questioned the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission, which was headed by a judge temporarily appointed for the job. "The credibility of the Election Commission has been seriously undermined," said Farhatullah Babar, a senator from opposition Pakistan Peoples Party. "If there is one important lesson of the elections, it is: The Election Commission must be thoroughly overhauled." Waseem, the analyst, said: "It is very unfortunate that the elections have become controversial," The level of controversy is such that it has started casting doubts over the fairness of the elections." Analysts said that Islamists had previously capitalized on a surging anti-American feeling after the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan in 2001, but "that catalyst is no more there," Waseem said. "Also," he said, "the incumbency factor is now at work." Islamists control the government in North-West Frontier Province and constitute a major coalition partner in the southwestern province of Baluchistan. Both these provinces lie on the border of Afghanistan. Musharraf, who has promised to eradicate extremism and militancy from the country, seemed buoyed by the poor showing among the Islamist parties.

"The outcome of the elections in the NWFP was a victory for the moderates, and enlightened, and defeat for the extremists," he said. But despite the anti-extremist rhetoric, Musharraf has refused to forge alliances with moderate and liberal forces within the country, according to experts. Husain Haqqani, a professor of international relations at Boston University, said, "The real question remains: Is the military willing to share power with the civilians in any meaningful way?" On Monday, the combined opposition, both Islamists and moderate, denounced the elections as "engineered and rigged." Liaqat Baloch, secretary general of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, told reporters here that the chances of fair and free elections during Musharraf's tenure were "unlikely" and demanded Musharraf's resignation from the president and army chief offices before the general elections.

Source: International Herald Tribune

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